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AMSBIO Launch 96-Well CometChip® System for DNA Damage Measurement

AMSBIO
2 May 2016
Alex Waite
Editorial Assistant

Product news

AMSBIO has launched the 96-Well CometChip® System - a high-throughput platform developed to simultaneously treat and measure DNA damage induced by different treatments, or among different cell types on a single slide using the Comet assay.

DNA damaging agents can promote aging, disease and cancer and are widespread in the environment as well as being produced within human cells as normal cellular metabolites. The ability to quantify DNA damage responses is consequently critical to researchers in public health, pharmaceutical or clinical labs.

The CometChip® is based upon the well-established single cell gel electrophoresis “Comet Assay”, which estimates the level of DNA damage by evaluating the extent of DNA migration through a matrix in an electrical field. The type of damage measured by this assay includes abasic sites, crosslinks, and strand breaks.

The Comet Assay has been available in 96-well format, the new CometChip® extends the productivity of this popular assay yet further. Instead of being randomly dispersed in agarose on a glass slide as the traditional Comet Assay, cells in the CometChip® are captured on an array of agarose microwells. Each well of the CometChip® contains approximately 400 microwells of 30 microns diameter, displayed in a defined pattern and depth which causes the captured test cells to reside in a single plane.

The 96 separate wells in the array are created by inserting the CometChip® into a reusable magnetically-sealed cassette suitable for tissue culture incubators. Cells added to each well are captured by gravity into micropores and excess cells are aspirated, leaving an array of non-overlapping cells. Multiple experimental conditions can be performed in parallel by the addition of different chemicals to different wells. Once treatment is complete, the CometChip® is removed from the cassette and processed using standard alkaline Comet conditions and imaging systems.

Leveraging this technological advance a single 96-well CometChip® can produce 20,000 data points per chip, based on an average of 208 cells imaged per well. With a capacity for three CometChips® per run, the output for just two runs per day is 120,000 data points. Our new Comet Analysis Software can analyze in minutes what used to take days, so that the data from these 120,000 cells can now be analyzed and exported to generate a report in under 20 minutes.

The new 96-Well CometChip® System enables reproducible and sensitive measurements of DNA damage in human cells and provides the necessary throughput for genotoxicity testing, drug development, epidemiological studies and clinical assays.

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ElectrophoresisElectrophoresis equipment is used to separate mixtures of protein, DNA or RNA, based on their electric charge, size and other physical characteristics, by passing them through a medium such as a polyacrylamide gel, an agarose gel or a capillary tube. Electrophoresis equipment includes horizontal and vertical gel electrophoresis chambers, isoelectric focusing systems, 2D electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis instruments. Precast gels with a gradient can be used or gels can be hand cast. Samples are run alongside ladders or markers to identify the approximate size of a molecule. Separated proteins and nucleic acids in the gel can be stained or probed with fluorescent markers and then imaged and detected using gel documentation instruments, transilluminators, densitometers and scanners. Find the best electrophoresis equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Sample PreparationSample preparation can improve the quality and speed of separation techniques. Products to assist sample preparation include filtration equipment, evaporators, membranes and sieves.Sample ManagementSample management systems include sample storage devices such as freezers and plate storers, sample environment enclosures and sample organization, retrieval and sorter systems. Useful system features include high-throughput, automation, robotic arms, automated liquid handling and associated database systems. Accessories in sample management include barcode scanners, heat sealers and tubes.Assay AssemblyAssay Assembly is technique used in drug discovery to develop assays to test the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, or other activities of a compound on a cell. Assay assembly requires chip assembly, a delivery system and a detection and analysis method. Beneficial features of assay kits or automated systems include high-throughput, high speed and sensitivity and low signal to noise ratio.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.DNA SequencingDNA sequencing, such as sanger sequencing, is a biological technique that determines the precise order of nucleotide bases in a fragment or template of DNA. DNA sequencers and genetic analyzers are based on capillary electrophoresis, where labeled DNA fragments are electrophoretically separated by size as they migrate through a polymer. Find the best DNA sequencing products, including DNA sequencing kits, genomic libraries and genetic identity kits in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.In Vivo Imaging Systems<i>In vivo</i> imaging systems, including pre-clinical imaging systems and medical imaging systems are used to non-invasively visualize and capture images of live animals and plants. Monitor the natural processes or diseases of your subjects using small-animal pre-clinical imaging systems, including single photon positron emission tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (micro-CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray radiography, ultrasound, fluorescence and bioluminescence imagers. Multimodal systems and software solutions are also available for correlative analysis of organ, tissue, cell, or molecular-level processes. Find the best in vivo imaging products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.ElectrophysiologyElectrophysiology is the study of biological voltage changes, from a single ion channel through to a whole organ scale. Voltages can be measured using patch clamping, automated workstations, electrophysiology rigs or cell based assays. Specific cell lines, manipulators and microinjectors are also available for electrophysiology research.DNA DamageDNADeoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the main component of chromosomes and the carrier of genetic information of living organisms. Find out here about PCR, NGS, ChIP-Seq, gel imaging, and many other techniques which can be used for the analysis of DNA.Assay DevelopmentThe process of proving an assay to be sensitive with respect to the target is known as assay development. The assay should be able to characterize novel compounds and measure the potency of these compounds against a validated biological target.GenotoxicityDrug DevelopmentDrug development refers to the process of bringing a new drug to market.MetabolitesMetabolites are the intermediate and end products of metabolism. Analyzing metabolites offers insight into cellular processes and disease mechanisms and is critical in fields like pharmacology, toxicology, and diagnostics. Explore our peer-reviewed product directory to find the best tools for metabolite analysis, compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.Cell AnalysisThe analysis of cells allows researchers to understand the factors which contribute to cell health and function. These influencing processes can then be predicted and altered, leading to the development of medication and disease treatments.

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AMSBIO Launch 96-Well CometChip® System for DNA Damage Measurement